Customer Reviews

Sing: A Novel of Colorado (Book Two of The Homeward Trilogy)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
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Don't you just love to read a "fun fiction" book and realize that you're actually learning? In the story of SING, the three St. Claire siblings are each in a different part of the world. Each has an adventure but circumstances cause all three to seek the shelter of the ranch in Colorado. As the old saying goes, "There's no place like home." And that is exactly where each sibling feels he needs to be. Feeling desperate but not without hope all three seeks a way to return to Colorado. The journey of Moira, as well as, Nic (Dominic) is a well plotted story. Adventure, cunning, and hope bring a fresh feel that as a christian we can SING in the midst of our trials! Truly an enjoyable read! Learning about Colorado and traveling to Paris and Brazil was an added bonus! This is a five star read for my book case! Anticipating the next novel, CLAIM, due out June 1!

The latest book on my `read' list is `Sing: A Novel of Colorado' by Lisa T. Bergren, Book 2 of the `Homeward Trilogy' series.

Here is the synopsis of this novel:

Will they discover what it means to sing praises to God, even in the midst of loss? It's 1886, and the St. Clairs are living out their dreams in three very different parts of the world - Paris, Brazil, and Colorado. And while each has found a measure of success and joy, each is haunted by past sins and secrets.

Odessa St. Clair McAllan has adapted well to life on her beautiful Colorado ranch, but nothing has prepared her for the devastation that the winter of 1886 brings. Far away in Paris, Moira St. Clair discovers she has been robbed by her manager and has fewer options than she imagined. Meanwhile, Dominic, working the boxing rings of South America, loses the wrong fight and ends up shanghaied by a frustrated sea captain. Can all three manage to find their way back to a reunion in Colorado...especially while haunted by a former menace who reemerges, bent on bringing each of them down!

Here is the biography of the author:

Lisa Tawn Bergren ([...]) is the best-selling author, award-winning author of over thirty books, with more than 1.5 million copies sold. Lisa's ([...]) time is split between managing home base, writing (including a fair amount of travel writing), consulting and freelance editing (with a little speaking here and there). She just finished writing a Colorado historical trilogy (Breathe, Sing and Claim), and has begun a teen series called River of Time (Waterfall, book 1, comes out in February 2011). She's married to Tim, a liturgical sculptor, graphic designer and musician. They have three kids-Olivia (15), Emma (12) and Jack (7). All five of the Bergrens make their home in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The primary characters in this book are the two sisters in the St. Clair family - Moira and Odessa. Moira's journey starts in Paris, where she is an acclaimed opera singer. Unfortunately, she was swindled by an unscrupulous manager, and decided to return to the United States. On the ship, she made the acquaintance of two attractive gentlemen, Gavin Knapp and Daniel Adams, both of whom would feature prominently in her life during the events in the storyline. I appreciated the fact that Moira returned to the faith in Jesus that her mother instilled in her children. Moira was led astray by people and circumstances, but she ultimately realizes that she needs to return to what is important - a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Odessa is happily married to Bryce McAllan and the mother to an active little baby named Samuel. Their ranch has sustained the loss through disease of the majority of their horse herd. Despite the devastation, their faith in Christ remains strong. Here are Odessa's and Bryce's reactions to their circumstances:

"Love has made us both good," she whispered. "But it is God that grants us life. We must praise Him, Bryce. Even when it's hard. Even when all seems dark. We must remember what is good, what is true, rather than believe fears and half-truths. That is how we cope with the day. That is how we keep living our lives the way He would have us live them, embracing them rather than just surviving them."

"Amen," he said, leaning back to look her in the eye.

She laughed through a big sigh. "All right, I'll quit preaching. But I'm right, aren't I? Come what may - even if we lose all, we always have our God, our hope."

"And each other," he said, kissing the top of her head. (p. 81)

On the open sea, God was also pursuing Dominic (who blamed God for deaths in his family), in the person of Manuel, the coal boss. Here is one example of how God used Manuel to speak to Nic:

"...mark my words. God will chase you until the end of your life. Better to give in to Him sooner than later. Until then, you will have no rest." (p. 313)

Later on, after Nic endured a severe punishment, Manuel explained to him that Jesus was able to sympathize with his pain:

"The Christ suffered wounds such as this," he said.

"I do not wish to hear it," Nic said tiredly.

"He bore this, and worse, for you. So that you might be free."

"Manuel---"

"Our God understands our pain, reaches out to us through it. Whether it be a whipping or a loss---"

"Enough!"

"Yes," Manuel said, finishing covering the wounds on his shoulder and purposefully twisting his words. "It was enough. Enough for all. Enough for any... (p. 319)

Lisa writes an evil villain! Reid Bannock committed a crime against their family in Book 1 of the Trilogy, `Breathe,' one in which they did not expect him to be released from jail for a good long time. Unfortunately, he was released, and was ready to wreak havoc and exact his twisted view of revenge upon the family. He created a lot of chaos throughout the book, and was quite unsympathetic! I was quite glad things ended as they did for him...

I really enjoyed this book. As is often the case these days, this is the first Lisa Bergren novel I've read; I have been exposed to so many great authors since I have been reviewing! It was very cleverly written, with Lisa ([...]) alternating between the stories of the three siblings. They were independent yet interconnected. I was drawn to the stories in this order - Moira, then Odessa, then Dominic.

I will be reading and reviewing Book 3 of the `Homeward Trilogy,' `Claim' shortly. My understanding is that Dominic's story is prominently featured in that book. I am anxious to read about the continuing adventures of the St. Clair clan; stay tuned!

This book is published by David C. Cook and was provided by B & B Media Group for review purposes.

Reviewed by Andrea Schultz - Ponderings by Andrea - [...]

It's four years later and Moira St. Clair is now living in Paris. She's finally living out her dream and is a very well known opera singer. When she discovers that her manager, Max Foster, has emptied her bank account and left her with nothing, she decides to leave and head back to America. While on the ship she meets Gavin Knapp and Daniel Adams. Both are attractive and seem to take interest in her. Daniel is more reserved and seems to be hiding something about himself. Gavin saw a very talented women in Moira and believed he could make her famous again. When he became her new manager she began to fall in love with him, but still had Daniel at the back of her mind. She made some foolish decisions and struggles to figure out how she'll handle the situation she found herself in.

Nic is now a boxer in Rio De Janeiro. One night when he loses a fight, he's shanghaied and forced to work off his debt by an angry ship captain. During a storm, they are shipwrecked and Nic tries to find his way back to America. He boards another ship as a crew member and is taunted by some of the other men aboard. He learns the hard way that he needs to control his temper, and a very wise man, Manuel, tries to help him see his need for God.

Back on their Colorado ranch, Odessa, Bryce, and their baby boy, Samuel, have just faced a harsh winter and lost over 50 of their prized horses. Their finances in months to come aren't the only thing they have to worry about. An old enemy comes back to claim what he feels it rightfully his and continues to seek revenge on the St. Clair siblings for getting him sent to jail. The devastation seems too hard to face, but their faith in God remains strong through it all. In the midst of pain, loss, and trials, the St. Clairs see the power of forgiveness and God's grace.

This was another great story by author, Lisa Bergren. This book would be fine as a stand alone, but I recommend you read Breathe first. I think for some, it might be a little confusing when the story jumps from one character to the other. I love how the journey each of the siblings take ultimately leads them to a God of love. They see how powerful His forgiveness is and what an important aspect it is in their lives. I had a hard time putting it down when I was close to the end of it. I really liked that the characters faith and relationship with God was mentioned a lot more in this book and you see how it grows throughout the story. Adventure, romance, mystery, and very realistic struggles fill the pages of this book and it turned out to be another enjoyable read.

This book was provided for review by David C. Cook. I was not required to write a positive review.

Readers were introduced to the St. Clair family in the first book of this fascinating trilogy titled, Breathe. Following this first journey of suspense, we begin in the 19th century with Moira St. Clair. Moira is a hugely popular opera singer in the luxurious opera houses of Paris. As we come upon her, standing in the local banking establishment, Moira finds out that her accounts have been siphoned off by her manager - who has run away with a new woman who he's fallen in love with. Moira is devastated and decides to go first to London, to escape the embarrassment and find a new audience to be beloved by, and then, when that falls through, she finds herself heading home to America on a ship that's also playing host to two men. One man is named Gavin; Gavin is a handsome "player-type" whose main goal is to start-up businesses and make a fortune. In Moira's eyes he sees a stunning singer who could take over the US of A and rake in the cash. The other man on board, Daniel Adams, is also quite taken with Moira but doesn't want her to know his real identity.

In Rio, Dominic (Nic) St. Clair has gone from the ring - where he lost a fight - into servitude aboard a ship. Against his will he must become part of the crew in order to pay the Captain back the money he lost wagering on Nic to beat his opponent in the match. The ship is tossed and turned one night at sea and wrecks - washing Nic and his only friend from the ship, William, onto a deserted beach where Nic must find his way back to America.

The last St. Clair - Odessa - is happily ensconced with her husband Bryce McAllan in the Colorado countryside. Their new son, Samuel, is with them, and their family is thriving until a huge winter storm hits the Circle M ranch and takes the lives of over 50 of their prized horses. They must find a way to support themselves through the coming months without the benefit of being able to sell their stock. Soon, Robert McAllan, Bryce's brother, comes for a visit. Not only is Robert mother's favorite and a wonderful businessman, he is also a man who finds himself unbelievably attracted to Odessa.

One more piece of the puzzle is Reid Bannock. Reid was completely in love with Moira St. Clair, and tried to find a way to discover the Spanish conquistador gold bars that are buried somewhere near Odessa St. Clair's ranch in Colorado. Because of his past actions - when this novel opens - Reid is part of a chain gang in Canon City, Colorado, where he is waiting for trial: Dreaming of the gold; missing Moira; and, despising Dominic St. Clair - the brother who stood between them.

Every once in a while you receive a book where every page is an adventure, filled with memorable characters and dialogue. Like Danielle Steel - the great "saga" authoress - Ms. Bergren has the ability to offer a family unit that readers will love, hate, and route for. Book III - Claim - is being released June, 2010. If you haven't read this trilogy, run out and buy the first two immediately. You will absolutely love the St. Clair clan.

Until Next Time,

Amy

Although I am a bigger fan of her River of Time Series, I have found this story-set to be interesting and amusing. Having been from Colorado Springs, I enjoyed it when I recognized a landmark here or there within the story line.

I am approximately 90 pages from the end of this incredible book and am excited about continuing on with this series! I thoroughly enjoyed Breathe and found Sing to be just as exciting, just as difficult to put down. The twists are incredibly unexpected. I have found myself on occasion speaking outloud to the book. This book creates so much emotion it makes you feel the way the author wants you to feel. It makes you angry, it makes you tense, it gives you a look into romance without crossing the line into inappropriate. The story is so believable, it catches you up into it. You can see everything as if you were there. It feels like a movie you want to watch all of in a single day or at most a weekend, but it's better than a movie, more real, more detailed. It keeps you on the edge of you seat page after page. I couldn't have asked for more out of a book. I hope others enjoy this book as much as I did.

SING: A Novel of Colorado is a historical fiction book about singing your praises to God even when you are tangled up in loss and are so weak that even things of this world look bleak and frustrating. How far can you run away from the truth? This story focuses on prodigals who are chasing after their dreams. Will they keep chasing or will they stop running away and turn back home to be with their families?

This is book 2 of The Homeward Trilogy by Best-Selling Author, Lisa T. Bergren. I have not read the first book, Breathe. I didn't have any problem jumping in and reading the 2nd book. I usually like to start a series from the beginning but as part of this book review I didn't have a chance to do that. Book 3, Claim is suppose to come out sometime this summer.

This novel focuses on the St. Clair family at the end of the 19th Century. The author beautifully and accurately describes life out on the sea, on the farm, in the big city and small town life all in this one book. Three siblings are living totally different lives. The siblings are not all living their life pleasing to God. They are all traveling on a different journey. The author's "award-winning prose is a strong voice showcasing God's mercy and grace in the lives of defiant believers, and her characters and their trials will be remembered long after the final pages" quoted by The B & B Media Group, Inc.

I'm looking forward in purchasing book 1, Breathe and then Claim when it is released! I'm very eager to read what is to come of this family.

Have you read these books? Have you ever read books written by Janette Oke? I would definitely say that this book is in the same genre and Jeanette Oke.

To read more of my reviews, do a blog search for SusieQTpies Scraps of Life

The St. Clair family is scattered in three different parts of the world: Paris, Brazil, and Colorado.

Odessa St. Clair McAllan lives in Colorado on a beautiful ranch, with her husband and new son. But a brutal blizzard brings unexpected devastation. In Paris, Moira St. Clair learns that her long trusted manager has been robbing her, and now she has no options. And Dominic St. Clair works in the boxing rings in Brazil, but he loses the wrong fight and son finds himself shanghaied by a frustrated sea captain.

Will the three of them manage to survive their devastating losses and escape a past menace determined to destroy them?

SING is the second book in The Homeward Trilogy by Ms. Bergren. Other than Ms. Bergren's children's books, I haven't read any of her fiction since she first began as a writer with delightful romances.

SING is more of a historical women's fiction, and being new to the series, I was quite lost as it began. I didn't know who any of these characters were or how they got to where they were. It also jumped from one character to another, jarring me out of the story just as soon as I began to get grounded. As a result, it took awhile for me to get into this book. I cared most about Odessa's story, maybe because she was the one I could most relate to. An interview with Ms. Bergren and discussion questions are included at the end of the book.

Odessa St, Clair McAllan and her husband, Bryce have settled into ranch live on the Circle M ranch. Unfortunately, things are not easy. They just survived their first harsh winter and did not fair so well. They lose almost all of their stock. Bryce talks about going across seas to pick up more live stock. Odessa does not want Bryce to go as the last time he went, he almost die from something he caught while traveling.

Moira St. Clair is living in Paris. She is a famous opera singer. Moira goes to the bank to make a withdrawal, only to discover that her manager, Max Foster has emptied her whole account and ran off with a younger woman. Moira realizes that there is nothing left for her in Paris and decides to leave.

Dominic is in Rio de Janeiro. Not by his choice. Due to some debts he racked up, he is a prisoner and trying to work off his debts.

Will the St. Clairs ever be reunited again?

Sing is book two in the Homeward trilogy. I did have some problems jumping right into this book. The beginning of the book, quickly jumped from character to character, trying to catch up the readers on what had transpired in the first book, Breathe. My issue with not having read the first book is that I felt like because I hadn't read the first book that maybe it would have helped me feel a better connection with the characters. For this fact alone, I found it a bit hard to read this book and fully enjoy it. The only people I found interesting was Odessa and her sister, Moira. I thought Mrs. Bergren did a pretty good job on this book. Also because she is a fellow Coloradoan and because I did like this book, I do plan to try Mrs. Bergren again in the future.

I enjoyed the sequel to Breathe and am looking forward to the third book in the series, Claim. Bergren did a fantastic job of torturing her characters and making you care about them. The brother Nic and sister Moira messed up the worst. What I liked about this story was that Begren pulled no punches and had them make poor choices and suffer from their mistakes. I really ached for Moira who went through quite a transformation in this novel because of the many disappointments and hurts she suffered.

I also loved the conflict between Odessa and Bryce's brother. There was some serious tension there, and I loved how realistically it was portrayed. The temptation was well done. I'm curious to see if this plays out further in the next book in this series. I'm also looking forward to seeing what happens to Nic in the last book. He has gone through so much, and yet he survived. On the positive end, he lost some of his recklessness because of this. Both he and Moira learned that they could not control everything. I found it interesting how they were introduced to faith, and also touching when Moira experienced unconditional love.

Last, I adored that this book had a lot of edgy content. Again, Bergren lays the temptation and aftermath right out there. She shows how sin easily entangles and snares the victim. She also uses realistic dialog in many of the scenes and I cringed at the painful truth in those words. Bravo to Lisa for writing a daringly different historical romance set in 1880s Colorado. I would definitely recommend this series to people who like edgy stories within which the characters have realistic struggles they try to overcome.